Albuquerque has brought in Development Counsellors International to kick off the initial PR phase of a national economic development push to lure business to the city.
The three-month $50K campaign will target national media with the opportunity for the city to extend the assignment.
New York-based DCI, which has guided PR for New Mexico's Dept. of Tourism, will also help the city develop an RFP to engage local advertising and marketing shops on a broader national campaign. In 2011, a survey of corporate executives by the PR firm conducted every three years rated New Mexico 38th among the 50 states for its economic development marketing.
Albuquerque has revamped its tax code in a bid to woo business, lowering its corp-orate tax rate and pursuing a plan to drop taxes for manufacturers on employees and property in favor of a single sales tax.
DCI previously repped the Acoma Pueblo region of New Mexico as it sought to draw travelers from higher-profile areas like Santa Fe Taos and Albuquerque.
The hire of DCI surfaced in the city's mayoral race as challenger Pete Dinelli said a local firm should have been hired for the PR assignment. Mayor Richard Berry says a local shop will likely take the reins of a wider campaign expected to cost about $5M, according to KOB-TV.
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